AgencyEA, a leading Chicago-based brand experience agency, won the 2015 Crain’s Coolest Offices competition for large office spaces over 15,001 sq. feet. Crain’s Business Chicago recognized agencyEA for its inspirational office environment featuring top-flight design, clear functionality and a touch of the unique.
“The recognition from Crain’s is especially meaningful because our office was built and designed by our internal team with our own unique needs in mind,” said Gabrielle Martinez, Managing Partner of agencyEA. “We’re extremely proud of the space, and honored to be featured.”
Located in Chicago’s River North neighborhood since 1999, agencyEA’s office features an open floor plan facilitating cross-departmental collaboration. Thoughtful design and innovative art installations throughout the space reflect the company’s vibrant culture and values, while inspiring creativity. Employees enjoy in-office arcade games, a Ping-Pong table, punching bag, and a state-of-the-art demo room, which doubles as a yoga studio, a screening room and brainstorm incubator.
“We purposely incorporated unique areas for impromptu meetings and custom art installations, including a mural by local Chicago graffiti artist Left Handed Wave,” said Rick Cosgrove, Creative Director of agencyEA, whose architectural background allowed him to heavily influence the office’s floor plans and spatial design.
For its annual Coolest Office contest – now in its ninth year – Crain’s editors asked participants to send pictures of their standout office designs via Twitter and Instagram and tag it #CCBOffice.
“This was a great opportunity to activate our employee advocacy program,” says Elle Kane, Interactive Marketing Manager at agencyEA. “Our internal team rallied together during the submission process with social media posts that showcased employees’ favorite office elements through #myfavoritespaceEA.”
The agencyEA team shared their office passion across Twitter and Instagram, including some best-kept office secrets. This captured the attention of Crain’s Chicago Business amongst hundreds of contest submissions. The selected finalists for Chicago’s Coolest Offices 2015 go beyond design; they transcend the ordinary and inspire innovative thinking.